Thanks to claudio mariottini for the link.
in the movie kingdom of heaven, saladdin was asked by balion 'what does jerusalem mean to you?'. his answer was simple: 'everything!'.
in a similar vein, what has the OT to do with english football? read on, especially the part highlighted in bold!
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Liverpool 0 United 1: Verdict
Stuart Mathieson 17/12/2007
AS a Premier League title pointer this proved conclusively that Sir Alex Ferguson has more chance of chalking off another League trophy towards his goal of overhauling Liverpool's record 18 crowns than Rafa Benitez has of ending the Merseysiders' task of winning their first for 18 years."
That's why we are champions," roared United's followers in the Anfield Road end after Carlos Tevez had produced a smash-and-grab winner in the first half.
They were alluding to the fact that in that first 45 minutes on this hostile territory they hadn't produced an effort on goal until the Argentinian's 43rd minute breakthrough.
Last March the Reds had suffered a backs-to-the-wall pummelling here before John O'Shea's dramatic injury time winner sent United back along the M62 believing that with nine games to go, they had struck the most significant title race blow and the silverware was being polished at Stamford Bridge in readiness for being transported back up north.
O'Shea's Kop heartbreaker had showed just what true champions are about. Digging in against the odds, and snatching victory is one of the key ingredients anyone worth their salt can dredge up.
There may be a lot longer to go in the 2007-08 race but this could be every bit as damaging to Liverpool's hopes if not Arsenal and Chelsea's just yet.
Challengers
This day could be seen as the pivotal point as to when the anticipated four-strong chase for the title was whittle down to three challengers.
Liverpool did not have the air of a team who have the nous to tackle days like these.
On the other hand the Reds clearly showed once again that they can cope and triumph in any scenario thrown at them.
It wasn't a day when finesse would have the upper hand, it was very much another occasion for an intense raw war.
It was also a day for converting what rare titbits came your way in the opposition area. In that area Liverpool were a very poor second to United.
Benitez's side shaded the clearer opportunities that were too rare to make this a classic Premier League advert.
Anderson had to rescue United with a hack off the line from Harry Kewell's penalty box drive after 25 minutes and Fernando Torres's finishing ability looked over-hyped as he steered the rebound wide with his head from close range.
It was their most potent fleeting moment.
Part of the build-up to this clash had been taken up with the head-to-head comparisons between the Spaniard United couldn't entice to Old Trafford and the South American who was prepared to go to court to move to the Reds.
Tracked
Ferguson had admitted that United had tracked and attempted to lure Torres to Manchester on numerous occasions.
Last summer the Reds had enquired again. Many believed, with good reason, that the former Atletico Madrid hitman's qualities were a necessary different option to add to the champion's firepower. Had he given the nod early, then maybe United wouldn't have had the stomach to pursue the tricky switch of Tevez from West Ham. But Torres chose the tapas environment that is now Anfield to Old Trafford. It left Fergie and the United hierarchy making the concerted and difficult Tevez option their spearhead priority.
This was certainly the day when it became worthwhile.
Torres suffered the taunts from the travelling Reds that he should have signed for a big club while Tevez became one of those overnight Old Trafford legends like Diego Forlan and O'Shea in recent years for scoring an Anfield winner.
Whatever he does in the future he won't forget, or be allowed to forget, his first ever away goal for United.
And with more speculation that Nicolas Anelka is a January target for United the 23-year-old is building up a goal record to fight off the attentions of any newcomer despite their pedigree.
After eight goals in the comfort of Old Trafford this was some place to break your duck and prove you are not a homer!
Brimstone
Amid all the typical fire and brimstone and good honest working your socks off, it was the one moment of real quality from the Reds. It had training ground written all over it as Liverpool bought the decoy runs of Vidic and Ferdinand hook, line and sinker.
As everyone tracked United's big guys, Ryan Giggs pulled his corner kick back to the waiting Wayne Rooney.
He struck a ferocious low drive that Tevez managed to divert into the roof of the net in front of the Kop. It doesn't come much sweeter.
United's backroom staff have been using Old Testament readings to inspire the Reds during their gym work - well they certainly seem to get some divine inspiration when they travel to Liverpool!
Rooney was counting his blessings too that he escaped being hit by a golf ball thrown from the crowd. Police are investigating the incident.
Liverpool had the air of a team who know that United have got their measure even in front of their own screaming hordes and with Vidic and Ferdinand resolute at the heart of the defence and Hargreaves and Anderson, making their debuts in this showdown, there was never any serious passage of time in the rest of the game where United fans would have felt they were not going to win.
Once again the celebratory scenes at the end were of a bunch of players and a support who knew they had made another significant Premiership statement, while the Anfielders still have the look of a side who know that they are still short of shedding their tag as the fourth team in the Big Four.
in the movie kingdom of heaven, saladdin was asked by balion 'what does jerusalem mean to you?'. his answer was simple: 'everything!'.
in a similar vein, what has the OT to do with english football? read on, especially the part highlighted in bold!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liverpool 0 United 1: Verdict
Stuart Mathieson 17/12/2007
AS a Premier League title pointer this proved conclusively that Sir Alex Ferguson has more chance of chalking off another League trophy towards his goal of overhauling Liverpool's record 18 crowns than Rafa Benitez has of ending the Merseysiders' task of winning their first for 18 years."
That's why we are champions," roared United's followers in the Anfield Road end after Carlos Tevez had produced a smash-and-grab winner in the first half.
They were alluding to the fact that in that first 45 minutes on this hostile territory they hadn't produced an effort on goal until the Argentinian's 43rd minute breakthrough.
Last March the Reds had suffered a backs-to-the-wall pummelling here before John O'Shea's dramatic injury time winner sent United back along the M62 believing that with nine games to go, they had struck the most significant title race blow and the silverware was being polished at Stamford Bridge in readiness for being transported back up north.
O'Shea's Kop heartbreaker had showed just what true champions are about. Digging in against the odds, and snatching victory is one of the key ingredients anyone worth their salt can dredge up.
There may be a lot longer to go in the 2007-08 race but this could be every bit as damaging to Liverpool's hopes if not Arsenal and Chelsea's just yet.
Challengers
This day could be seen as the pivotal point as to when the anticipated four-strong chase for the title was whittle down to three challengers.
Liverpool did not have the air of a team who have the nous to tackle days like these.
On the other hand the Reds clearly showed once again that they can cope and triumph in any scenario thrown at them.
It wasn't a day when finesse would have the upper hand, it was very much another occasion for an intense raw war.
It was also a day for converting what rare titbits came your way in the opposition area. In that area Liverpool were a very poor second to United.
Benitez's side shaded the clearer opportunities that were too rare to make this a classic Premier League advert.
Anderson had to rescue United with a hack off the line from Harry Kewell's penalty box drive after 25 minutes and Fernando Torres's finishing ability looked over-hyped as he steered the rebound wide with his head from close range.
It was their most potent fleeting moment.
Part of the build-up to this clash had been taken up with the head-to-head comparisons between the Spaniard United couldn't entice to Old Trafford and the South American who was prepared to go to court to move to the Reds.
Tracked
Ferguson had admitted that United had tracked and attempted to lure Torres to Manchester on numerous occasions.
Last summer the Reds had enquired again. Many believed, with good reason, that the former Atletico Madrid hitman's qualities were a necessary different option to add to the champion's firepower. Had he given the nod early, then maybe United wouldn't have had the stomach to pursue the tricky switch of Tevez from West Ham. But Torres chose the tapas environment that is now Anfield to Old Trafford. It left Fergie and the United hierarchy making the concerted and difficult Tevez option their spearhead priority.
This was certainly the day when it became worthwhile.
Torres suffered the taunts from the travelling Reds that he should have signed for a big club while Tevez became one of those overnight Old Trafford legends like Diego Forlan and O'Shea in recent years for scoring an Anfield winner.
Whatever he does in the future he won't forget, or be allowed to forget, his first ever away goal for United.
And with more speculation that Nicolas Anelka is a January target for United the 23-year-old is building up a goal record to fight off the attentions of any newcomer despite their pedigree.
After eight goals in the comfort of Old Trafford this was some place to break your duck and prove you are not a homer!
Brimstone
Amid all the typical fire and brimstone and good honest working your socks off, it was the one moment of real quality from the Reds. It had training ground written all over it as Liverpool bought the decoy runs of Vidic and Ferdinand hook, line and sinker.
As everyone tracked United's big guys, Ryan Giggs pulled his corner kick back to the waiting Wayne Rooney.
He struck a ferocious low drive that Tevez managed to divert into the roof of the net in front of the Kop. It doesn't come much sweeter.
United's backroom staff have been using Old Testament readings to inspire the Reds during their gym work - well they certainly seem to get some divine inspiration when they travel to Liverpool!
Rooney was counting his blessings too that he escaped being hit by a golf ball thrown from the crowd. Police are investigating the incident.
Liverpool had the air of a team who know that United have got their measure even in front of their own screaming hordes and with Vidic and Ferdinand resolute at the heart of the defence and Hargreaves and Anderson, making their debuts in this showdown, there was never any serious passage of time in the rest of the game where United fans would have felt they were not going to win.
Once again the celebratory scenes at the end were of a bunch of players and a support who knew they had made another significant Premiership statement, while the Anfielders still have the look of a side who know that they are still short of shedding their tag as the fourth team in the Big Four.
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